I have read many books about the Holocaust; some of them are fiction, some are non-fiction. Anyone that is interested in what people went through during this time should read a few of these books:
Non-Fiction Books
I Have Lived a Thousand Years: Growing up in the Holocaust by Livia Bitton-Jackson - This is the story of a 14 year old girl, her mother and brother. It is about their experience in the ghettos and concentration camps. This is one of the less brutal books.
Maus I and Maus II by Art Spiegleman - These books are written in comic book format, and are a series of flash-backs as Art interviews his father about the Holocaust. Lots of symbolism in choice of animal characters.
Night by Elie Wiesel - This is required reading for 10th graders in our school district. It is very explicit.
Was God on Vacation by Jack Van der Geest - This is another very explicit book about the author's experiences in a concentration camp, as well as his escape.
Hostage to War by Tatjana Wassiljewa - This story is about a 10 year old girl in the Soviet Union and her experience as a captive laborer forced to work in Germany.
Fiction Books
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen - This fictional story takes you from the present back to the concentration camps, and helps the main character understand why "we must never forget".
Babi Yar by Anatoly Kuznetsov - This book is written as a novel, but it describes what happened to the Russian Jews living near Kiev. I would call it historical fiction, and it can be very explicit.
Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs - This book is the story of 2 sisters and their experience of being placed into forced labor for the Germans.
Non-Fiction Books
I Have Lived a Thousand Years: Growing up in the Holocaust by Livia Bitton-Jackson - This is the story of a 14 year old girl, her mother and brother. It is about their experience in the ghettos and concentration camps. This is one of the less brutal books.
Maus I and Maus II by Art Spiegleman - These books are written in comic book format, and are a series of flash-backs as Art interviews his father about the Holocaust. Lots of symbolism in choice of animal characters.
Night by Elie Wiesel - This is required reading for 10th graders in our school district. It is very explicit.
Was God on Vacation by Jack Van der Geest - This is another very explicit book about the author's experiences in a concentration camp, as well as his escape.
Hostage to War by Tatjana Wassiljewa - This story is about a 10 year old girl in the Soviet Union and her experience as a captive laborer forced to work in Germany.
Fiction Books
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen - This fictional story takes you from the present back to the concentration camps, and helps the main character understand why "we must never forget".
Babi Yar by Anatoly Kuznetsov - This book is written as a novel, but it describes what happened to the Russian Jews living near Kiev. I would call it historical fiction, and it can be very explicit.
Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs - This book is the story of 2 sisters and their experience of being placed into forced labor for the Germans.